SIS stands out in girls U18

Champion of the 60m run Mauii Doculan of Saipan International School is flanked by runner-up Sophia Cruz, left, of Tinian Junior and Senior High School, and third placer Pinyarat Shankweiller of Marianas High School during the awards ceremony for the 2017 PSS/McDonald’s All Schools Track and Field Championships last Saturday at the Hopwood Middle School Field. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Saipan International School won seven of the 11 individual events in the girls U18 division of the 2017 PSS/McDonald’s All Schools Track and Field Championships held last week at the Hopwood Middle School Field.

The Lady Geckos nearly swept the seven running events as Mauii Doculan and Isabel Dickenson took turns in handing SIS first place finishes in the sprint and middle distance races. Dickenson topped the 400m, 800m, 1,500m, and 3,000m runs, while Doculan prevailed in the 60m and 100m events. SIS did not compete in the 200m run, which Agape Christian School’s Amelia Yu (31.87 seconds) ruled.

In the first run of the day—the 60m—Doculan posted 8.82 seconds to beat Tinian Junior and Senior High School’s Sophia Cruz (8.95 seconds), Marianas High School’s Pinyarat Shankweiler (9.03 seconds), and five other runners. The SIS sprinter then defeated the same foes in the 100m run held last Saturday after clocking in 14.48 seconds. Cruz and Shankweiller registered 14.73 seconds and 15.02 seconds, respectively, to join Doculan in the podium.

In the 400m, 800m, 1,500m, and 3,000m, Dickenson prevailed against ACS, MHS, and Tinian runners. Her 1:10.19 in the 400m was way ahead of the 1:15.44 and 1:15.50 of Agape’s Ella Zhang and Cruz, while Dickenson also had a big lead in the 800m after recording 2:47.85 versus the 2:54.78 of Zhang and the 3:20.80 of Yu.

In the 1,500m, the SIS runner made it to the finish line nearly 18 seconds faster than Zhang as Dickenson clocked in at 6:16.16 against the Agape student’s 6:34.00. Zhang’s teammate Anne Xiang (6:55.38) rounded out the Top 3. In the 3,000m, Dickenson was about a minute ahead of Zhang as the former registered 11:35.79 over the 12:37.70 of the latter. Zhang’s sister Evon Zhang placed third after timing in at 14:54.82.

In other results, Kye Tamm contributed one gold medal to SIS’ collection after winning the javelin throw. Tamm marked 16.10m to beat nine other participants, while Mt. Carmel School’s Anna Lei Santos and MHS’ Chenoa Bunts-Anderson completed the Top 3 after posting 15.40m and 14.30m, respectively.

In the two other field events, Santos reigned supreme in the shot put, while Cruz topped the discus throw. Santos’ 10.13m in the shot put defeated the 9.05 of Tamm and 8.10 of Nicole Clamor, also from SIS. In the discus, Cruz submitted 19.52m to down Santos (19.32m), Bunts-Anderson (17.27m) and five others.

Meanwhile, SIS and Saipan Southern High School split the two relay races in the girls U18 division. Saipan’s ruled the 4x100m after clocking in at 1:00.30, while MHS (1:00.63) and SIS (1:01.32) were ranked second and third. SIS then fought back in the 4x400m relay with Tania Tan, Anika Snyder, Malika MIyawaki, and Dickenson combining for 5:18.40 to edge Agape’s 5:30.4.

Balance competition in boys U18
In the boys division, Saipan Southern prevailed in sprints races, Agape stood out in the middle distance, while Tinian triumphed in field events.

Trevan Quitugua gave the Manta Rays gold medals in the 60m, 100m, and 100m races after clocking in at 7:34seconds, 12:37, and 25.10. Tinian’s Peter Ray Manglona (7.62 seconds) and Agape’s Enfang Wang (7.86) made it to the Top 3 in the 60m; Agape’s Teemo Wang (12.62) and Tinian’s Peter Anore (12.91) in the 100m; and Teemo (25.50) and Manglona (26.43) in the 200m.

After falling short in the sprints, Agape placed first in three other run races with Caleb Wang winning the 400m (59.33 seconds), Henry Hu topping the 1,500m (5:28.26), and Chen Xi Zhao ruling the 3,000m (11:17.87).

For Tinian, Manglona delivered the gold in the 800m (2:19.22), while Michael Naputi swept the field events—javelin (29.50m), shot put (11.90m), and discus (24.39m). The Stallions also took the gold medal in the 4x100m relay (50.21), while Agape led in the 4x400m race (4:10.40).